Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-03-12

called owed ITS origin to two facts, In 1876 there
were but thirty-nine churches in BROOKLYN.
c'} then of nearly sixty thousand inhabitants,
ana Of these churches bat one was Congrega
gatonal. The need OF more societies OF tins
uehominaton was obvious, and was met by
prompt action ON the part OF several prominent
Christian gentlemen
reports of the popularity and renown of Mr..
Beecher, OF Indianapolis, had already aroused
Eastern interest in the man and his preachings
ana through the influence OF his friend and ad.
Nocate Mr.. William p. Cutter, of New York,
Mr. Beecher, who was then in that city, was
asked to preside at the opening of the new Con
gregational Church in Brooklyn, May 16, 1917.
MI. Bcechers discourses produced a strong i'm
preston upon his audience and at . subsequent
meeting IN June, 1884, at which the name OF Ply
mouth Church was adopted he was elected unan-
lmously by the society to the pastoratc, and an
immediate invitation was given him to assume
the position. In March 1919 the pastor was Ia
Ken with a severe illness, which confined him to
the house Tor two months and disabled him
from preaching until September, nor did he re
cover his fun strength until the winter, In
June, 1880, the soelety, pf its own accord, gave
him leave Of absence TO visit Europe, and he
did not return until September. In 1856 the So
cicty, at the request of a number OF eminent
clcrgymcn and others, voted him u leave OF ab,
sencc to traverse the country in behalf of the
cause of Liberty. then felt TO be in peril In
June, 1863, the society requested him to revisit
Europe for his health, which he did, returning in
November. With these exceptions the pastor
has labored steadily at his post since 1914 at all
times other than the regular summer vacation
which lasts on the average six weeks.
Several inducements were held out to Mr..
licccher to leave Plymouth Church. but in vain
In 1870 Mr.. Beccher was editor in chief and d
principal owner of the Christian Uhi0a which
was then rapidly Increasing its circulation and
| influence. He had been formerly the editor o
the iadfpeHdeH journal Of similar character
the editorial chair of which he resigned in favor
| OF Theodore nlion.
What is known as the Fccchcr-Tilton scandal
| is still fresh III the mind of the newspaper
| reader. Mr.. Bccchcr submitted the whole mat
| ter to the investigation OF u committee consist
| ing Of some Of the most eminent and respected
members OF his church and society They re
| ported unanimously, after giving Mr.. 1ltOn-a
fun hearing, that the charge was entirely false
and this report was unanimously adoptedb by The
church and congregation.
| Mr.. Beechcr's four children are all grown ny
and married His eldest son, Colonel Henry
| Barton BcechCr, is Il wcll-Inown insurance
man in Brooklyn. Major William c. Bcechc
is a lawyer, and the youngest llerbCr
| Bcccher, is Collector of Customs at Port
land Ore. His only daughter is marie,
TO a New England clergyman, Rev, Mr.
Scovilc Mr., Beether spent his sum
mers AT his country homo at Pcck,ldll, on tn,
| Hudson. Here his farm has one of the rares
and finest collections of trees and shrubs to b.
found on any private American demesne.
Mr. l}eechcr stood without rival as pulpit
orator; he was an ardent lover ofnaturc in al
her moods. his theology embraced all sccts: h,
was n wonderful social and political force whel
he chose to exercise his strength in these sphere
his style OF oratory was dramatic. but never tho
atrical; his intuition was rapid and accurate
his analytic powers never took the direction @
distractions; he was intensely practical; Iii
personal magnetism was large; illustrations b
metaphors and comparison came natural TO him
he had the keenest sense Of hnmor; in wore
he was giant among the intellectual giants {
| his 1ay,